Despite the existence of the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA), many government agencies have been using loopholes within the Act’s archaic language to bypass an online user’s privacy rights. The Act, which was first written and passed in 1986, doesn’t adequately protect newer technologies such as cloud storage, modern webmail servers, and data accessed through tablets and phones. Fortunately, three U.S. Representatives are aiming to change all that.

Representatives Zoe Lofgren of California, Ted Poe of Texas, and Suzan DelBene of Washington have collaborated to introduce a much-needed update to the ECPA that would require law enforcement agencies to obtain a warrant before accessing a user’s private online data. If an agency chose to ignore the new legislation and acquired private online evidence without first obtaining a warrant, that evidence would be inadmissible in court.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has already declared its support for the new legislation. They have even stated that they hope this will just be the first in a many-step process to fix other online privacy issues such as evidence suppression rights for email content that was obtained illegally.

The new legislation, while not offering complete online protection from government snooping, is a much needed step in the right direction towards updating the ECPA to more properly align with modern technologies. Help thank Representatives Lofgren, Poe, and DelBene for their efforts by signing this petition.

PETITION LETTER

Dear U.S. Representatives Zoe Lofgren, Ted Poe, and Suzan DelBene,

The crusade to protect individual online user rights is a difficult and seemingly never-ending one. However, thanks to your new amendment to the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, the battle has just gotten a little easier.

It’s sad that our own government would resort to exploiting archaic loopholes from the ECPA’s original 1986 draft in order to bypass online protection rights, but it is heartening to know that there are people in Congress like you who aren’t willing to let them get away with it. By signing this petition, I am personally thanking you for your efforts towards protecting my online rights and the rights of thousands of other Americans.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]

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